Self-lubricating bearing



May 7, 1929. v U 1,712,263

SELF LUBRICATED BEARING Filed March 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1N VENTOR7/0070 5. fun/f May 7, 1929. T. -B. FUNK SELF LUBRICATED BEARING FiledMarch 23, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR fro/7700 5. Funk MMZ%$ PatentedMay 7, 1929.

. uNiTEo STATES PATENT OFFICE.

runner; s. FUNK, or Jamison, Midstream, assttonoa T auroiuo'rrvn lulu &BEARING COMPANY, or JACKSON, MICHIGAN.

snLr-n'unnroariive BEARING.

Application filed. March 23;1925; Serial No. 17,509.

This invention relates to improvements in sell-lubricated bearings;

'lhemam ob ect of this invention it to provide an improvedself-lubricated bearing in which a supply of the lubricant isellectively retained and distributed to the bearing surfaces.

A further object is to providean in'iproved self-lubricated bearingwhich is well adapted for automobile engine cooling fans and the lihewhich are normally driven at high speed.

Objects pertaining to details and economies of my invention willdefinitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

Iaccomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification. The invention is clearlydefined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure embodying the features of my invention is clearlyillustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of thisapplication, in which:

Fig. I is a fragmentary View of an automobile fan embodying the featuresof my invention partially in central longitudinal section. on a linecorresponding to li11e'l-1 of Figs. Ill and IV.

Fig. II is an end view of the bearing memher with the gears of the gearpump in position therein.

l ig. III is an end view of the bearing memher with the pump gearsremoved.

Fig. IV is a transverse section 011 a line corresponding to line 44 ofFig. I.

Fig. V is a view of the parts in disassenr bled relation, onlytwo of thefan blades being illustrated and one of those being broken away.

Fig. VI is a side View of the fan web or spider.

In the drawing the sectional views are taken looking in the direction ofthe little arrows at the ends of the section lines and similar numeralsof reference indicate sin1ilar parts in all of the views.

Referring to the drawing, the stub shaft 1 :arried by a bracket 2 orother suitable mounting. Un this stub shaft is a bearing member 3 havinga flange-like head 4.- at its outer end. The outer side of this head 4has a recess 5 therein adapted to receive the gear pump gears 6 and 7The gear 6 is mounted upon the end of the shaft and is fixed thereon sothat it constitutes a sun gear while the gear '7 is mounted on a spindle8 carried by as illustrated and having an opening therein to receive thelubricant. A cup-like lub1'i cant guard 13 embraces the inner end of thebearing member 3. A gasket 14 is arranged between the flange 1.2 and thebearing member head. i i

The plate-like fan spider 1.51s also bolted to thebearing member head, adisk 1.6 of fiber or other suitable material being arranged on the innerside of this spider ,to constitute a gasket for the end plate. Thisgasket disk in the embodiment illustrated constitutes the outer wall ofthe gear pump housing.

A groove-like passage 17 at the rear wall of the recess 5 facilitatesthe flow of the lubricant from the pump to the shaft. The lubricant isforced by the pump into the hearing so that the bearing is entirelylubricated.

To prevent the forcing of the lubricant from the lubricant chamberaround the shaft the bearing is provided adjacent its inner end with aninternal lubricant collecting groove 18 and radial. discharge openings19 conununicating with the groove. At the outer side of the groove 18the hearing has an internal spiral groove which tends, when the bearingis rotated, to carry the lubricant toward the groove 18 therebydirecting the lubricant from the end of the shaft toward the groove 18to be discharged through the openings 19.

The cup-like inwardly flaring deflector 21 carried by the casingembraces the inner end of the bearing member so that any lubricantfalling thereon is by centrifugal action carried inwardly and dischargedtherefrom. The casing 11 is provided with a filling tube 22 whichprojects radially into the lubricant chamber, this filling tube having athreaded closure plug 23. The purpose of this is twofold; first, toprovide a gage to prevent an over-supply of lubricant. A supply oflubricant is introduced into the chamber, the structure is turned untilthe filling tube is in an upright position as shown in Fig. IV be forethe closure plug is inserted and any excess of lubricant will flow out.The level is determined as indicated inv Fig. IV. The plug is theninserted.

' In the structure illustrated the bearing casing is provided with apulley 24 adapted to receive the driving belt. Ihe fan spider has arms25 which are given the proper twist to position the blades 26. Theseblades have outwardly taperedribs 27 struck up therefrom providingstrengthening means for the blades andalso recesses 28 adapted toreceive the arms 25 of the spider. Thus arranged, there is very littlestrain upon the blade attaching rivets 29 and the blades are rigid andstrong even when made of comparatively light gage material.

I have'illustrated and described my improvements in an embodiment whichI have found very practical, the same being an adaptation of and in somerespects an improvement ove'rthe lubricating features of my Patents No.1,378,587 and No. 1,378,588, dated. May 17, 1921 and the Funk and EasonPatent No. 1,370,422, dated March 1, 1921.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as'new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a structurevof the class described, the

i combination of a stubshaft, abearing member rotatable on said shaftand having a flangelike head at its outer end, a bearing member casingmounted on said bearing member head and having an end Wall with anopening therein to receive said shaft, the end of the said bearingmember being adjacent to but spaced from said end Wall, said bearingmember having an internal annular groove adjacent the inner end thereofwith radial discharge openings and a spiral internal groove at theoutside of said annular groove, and a flaring lubricant guard mounted onsaid casing to embrace the inner end of the bearing member.

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a stubshaft, a bearing member rotatable on said shaft and having a flange-likehead at its outer end, and a hearing member casing mounted on saidbearing member head and having an end wall with an opening therein toreceive said shaft, the end of the said bearing member being adjacent tobut spaced from said end wall, said bearing member having an internalannular groove adjacent the inner end thereof with radial dischargeopenings and a spiral internal groove at the outside of said annulargroove. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

TRUMAN B. FUNK.

